Persulfate System Converts Waste Plastic to Fuels
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating waste plastics, such as incineration and landfill, result in environmental pollution, resource wastage, and slow degradation due to the stability of plastic molecules, necessitating an efficient recycling method.
Innovation Solution
A method involving mixing waste plastics with sulfuric acid, sulfate, peroxymonosulfate, and water, and reacting at 80-140°C for 3-15 hours to create a catalysis system that converts polyethylene or polyethylene terephthalate into C7H12 and C10H12 fuels, utilizing copper or ferrous sulfate and potassium or sodium peroxymonosulfate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If incineration is used to treat waste plastics, then disposal efficiency is improved and operation is convenient, but toxic organic gases and inorganic pollutants are generated causing environmental pollution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs persulfate (S2O8^2-) as a strong oxidant to activate at 80-140°C, generating highly reactive oxygen species (·OH, SO4^·-, O2^·-) that oxidize plastic polymers into small molecular fuels (C7H12, C10H12) and CO2, thereby achieving efficient degradation without producing toxic gases
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the treatment parameters from conventional incineration (high temperature combustion) to a controlled oxidation process at 80-140°C using persulfate activation, transforming the degradation pathway to produce fuels instead of toxic emissions while maintaining high disposal efficiency
2Ease of manufacture
If landfill is used to treat waste plastics, then cost is reduced and process is simplified, but land resources are occupied for a long time and toxic substances are leached out
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses persulfate activation to dramatically accelerate the degradation of plastic polymers, reducing the degradation time from hundreds of years (landfill) to 3-15 hours, while the oxidation process converts plastics into fuels rather than allowing long-term accumulation and leaching
3Ease of operation
If direct incineration is used to treat waste plastics, then disposal is convenient, but important chemical raw materials are wasted and recycling value is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful plastic polymers into valuable fuel products (C7H12, C10H12) through controlled oxidation, transforming waste plastics into useful chemical raw materials that can be reused, thereby eliminating resource waste while maintaining operational convenience
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This process efficiently recycles waste plastics into fuels with high yields of C7H12 and C10H12, offering a simple and wide-applicable solution that addresses environmental concerns and resource conservation.
Implementation Method 1
sulfate and peroxymonosulfate (PMS) are added to the waste plastic, metal ions in the sulfate activate hydrogen peroxymonosulfate (HSO5−) to generate high-valence metals, SO4·−, and ·OH
Implementation Method 2
The interaction of ·OH with the carbon chain (RH) can generate an R·radical. Under the combined action of Cu(III), SO4·−, 1O2, and O2·−, the C—C bond of the polymer in the plastic is broken
Implementation Method 3
constructing a homogeneous catalysis system of transition metal (bivalent copper and bivalent iron) activated peroxymonosulfate
Implementation Method 4
sulfuric acid, sulfate, peroxymonosulfate, and water, and reacting at 80-140° C. for 3-15 h
Implementation Method 5
reacting at 80-140° C. for 3-15 h
Data Source
AI summary
A method for treating a waste plastic based on a persulfate system is provided. The method includes the following steps: mixing the waste plastic, sulfuric acid, sulfate, peroxymonosulfate, and water, and reacting at 80-140° C. for 3-15 h to complete the treatment; where the waste plastic is polyethylene or polyethylene terephthalate; and the sulfate is copper sulfate or ferrous sulfate. The present invention reasonably regulates and controls each parameter in the reaction process while constructing a homogeneous catalysis system of transition metal activated peroxymonosulfate, and finally directionally converts the waste plastic into C7H12 and C10H12 fuels, which realizes high-efficiency recycling of the waste plastic, has a simple and convenient working procedure, and has a wide application prospect.